High Altitude.

This is coolbert:

Thanks to the Danger Room here.

American soldiers while forbidden to take illegal controlled substances, BEING ISSUED DRUGS TO ENHANCE PERFORMANCE AT HIGH ALTITUDE [mountain warfare]!

"Darpa’s Inhaled Drugs to Boost Troops at Extreme Altitudes"

American soldiers finding it hard going in the high altitude mountainous terrain of Afghan. Especially when fighting a guerrilla enemy BORN AND BRED IN THE SAME MOUNTAINS, ACCUSTOMED FROM BIRTH TO THE HIGH ALTITUDE!!

Darpa [Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency] has an antidote to the problem in the works. An antidote that will come too late at least for Afghan?

"Extreme altitudes are a major barrier for troops fighting in the mountains of Afghanistan, and the military’s spent millions trying to minimize altitude’s impact on physical and cognitive ability. Now, Darpa-funded researchers are making impressive progress towards inhaled drugs that would pump up troop performance by fast-tracking the body’s natural adaptations to altitude."

"the drugs will work by increasing blood levels of nitric oxide, which is naturally released by red blood cells to dilate vessels and increase blood flow."

This is similar if not analogous to the amyl nitrate capsules that used to be issued to American soldiers during the Cold War. Amyl nitrate capsules, called "poppers", were the antidote to blood agent poisoning [HCN]. Blood vessels constricted by blood agent could be dilated by inhalation of the amyl nitrate.

"Within three years, Darpa wants to see animal models and human subjects capable of immediately exercising more efficiently at altitude after taking the drugs"

Within three years the majority of U.S. troops in Afghan will have been withdrawn. NO need for the drug after that unless the U.S. becomes involved in another part of the world where mountainous terrain exists.

American Special Forces [SF] troops that for some time have been training for Afghan style mountain warfare are reputed to use oxygen bottles during combat operations. At even higher altitudes, the use of oxygen in this manner will give a distinct advantage to the user. BUT also add a lot of weight to the basic fighting load.

And too, abuse of the drug, inhaled, when fielded, will be a potential problem?

Troops using amyl nitrate as a way of getting "high" became such a problem that the capsules had to be taken away from the soldiers, not issued, indiscriminate and callous use a "drug" problem!! Too many uses of "poppers" being "popped" and voila' you have a "stoned" soldier!

coolbert.